3rd February 2012

CREWKERNE: Roundham House plans

COUNCILLORS signalled their approval for redevelopment of a former town-centre factory, provided their concerns about fire safety can be allayed.

Members spent several minutes debating the merits of the proposal to transform Roundham House in Oxen Road.

The owners are seeking permission to change part of the property into six apartments, with the retention of two commercial units.

Councillor Angie Singleton described the proposal as “an expensive project to bring forward”, adding: “It’s a building that’s stood empty for a long time. It’s part of Crewkerne’s heritage.”

But town councillors were not entirely happy with the proposal before them.

Several voiced concerns about the lack of an external fire escape, with one member warning that should the internal staircase become smoke-logged, people could become trapped upstairs.

Councillor Singleton voiced the fears of several colleagues when she highlighted doubts about the amount of “over-looking” for new residents, the amount of natural light inside the building, and the suitability of the proposed internal fire escape proposed by the architects.

She said that among the councillors who had inspected the site, “our main concern was fire safety and the escape mechanism”.

Chairman Neil Sturtivant invited the scheme agent to address the meeting.

The agent said: “There’s one internal means of escape. We believe that’s adequate, but we might need to install a sprinkler system.

“I don’t anticipate a second escape point out of the building.”

Members signalled their approval for the scheme “subject to something addressing fire safety concerns”.